DOCSLIB.ORG

Masculinity As Political Rhetoric in English Novels During the Revolution Controversy

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Masculinity As Political Rhetoric in English Novels During the Revolution Controversy City University of New York (CUNY) CUNY Academic Works All Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects 9-2015 A Man to Preserve or Reform the Nation: Masculinity as Political Rhetoric in English Novels during the Revolution Controversy Janne Burger Gillespie Graduate Center, City University of New York How does access to this work benefit ou?y Let us know! More information about this work at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/942 Discover additional works at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu This work is made publicly available by the City University of New York (CUNY). Contact: [email protected] A MAN TO PRESERVE OR REFORM THE NATION: MASCULINITY AS POLITICAL RHETORIC IN ENGLISH NOVELS DURING THE REVOLUTION CONTROVERSY by Janne Burger Gillespie A dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty in English in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, The City University of New York 2015 ii © 2015 Janne Burger Gillespie All rights reserved iii This manuscript has been read and accepted for the Graduate Faculty in English to satisfy the dissertation requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy 20 May, 2015 David H. Richter Date Chair of Examining Committee 20 May, 2015 Mario DiGangi Date Executive Officer David Richter Rachel Brownstein Alan Vardy Supervisory Committee THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK iv Abstract A Man to Preserve or Reform the Nation: Masculinity as Political Rhetoric in English Novels during the Revolution Controversy by Janne Burger Gillespie Director: David H. Richter The English literary responses to the French Revolution have been given thorough critical attention as has the Revolution’s impact on women writers and femininity. However, the Revolution’s impact on and engagement with standards of manliness have been left relatively unexplored. This dissertation examines how a critique of masculinity is positioned in the space of contemporary political considerations in the quarter-century following the French Revolution. Thus, this dissertation argues that there is a dialectical engagement between masculinity and political views in late eighteenth-century and early nineteenth-century English novels such as Maria Edgeworth’s Belinda and Leonora, Charlotte Smith’s Emmeline and Desmond, Frances Burney’s Camilla, Elizabeth Jervis’ Agatha, and Jane Austen’s Emma. The way these novels construct and interrogate masculinity, aristocratic and otherwise, must be read in reference to not only eighteenth and nineteenth-century discourses on hegemonic masculinities, such as politeness, sensibility, gentlemanliness, and manliness, but also in reference to the discursive atmosphere of the revolutionary ideas and their conservative counterparts. It is my contention that novelists writing in the wake of the French Revolution made conscious use of tropes of and existing discourses on masculinity to v construct their political arguments, and, therefore, reading these novels with an eye towards depictions of masculinity can help us better understand the politics of novels written during the Revolution Controversy, 1789-1815. vi Acknowledgements My first heartfelt gratitude goes to my advisor, David Richter, whose guidance and support, not only during the dissertation writing stage but throughout my graduate career, has been essential to my completing this dissertation. His willingness and ability to offer critical insight and constructive comments while giving me the freedom to explore my ideas allowed this project to blossom. Going back to my days as an M.A. student at Queens College, when he encouraged my ambition to continue my graduate studies, he has taught me so much about our field, and I am immensely grateful to have had such a dedicated advisor and mentor. I also want to extend a special thank you to my readers, Rachel Brownstein and Alan Vardy, for their time, insightful suggestions, and perceptive readings. Every question and concern they raised along the way strengthened my work. I could not have asked for a better committee. I owe my deepest gratefulness to my mother, Else Marie Burger, to whose memory I dedicate this dissertation. She always encouraged me to read and to get the post-secondary education she never did. It is my deepest regret that she is no longer here to celebrate this very special occasion with me, and I know she would have been immensely proud of me. I am also extremely thankful to my maternal grandparents, “Mor” and “Far,” who have always been there for me with their encouragement and love. My awesome mother-in-law, Sherry Gillespie, has been a great source of inspiration, as well, since she has not only cheered me on, but has shown me that it is indeed possible to successfully combine getting a Ph.D. with family life. I could not have completed this body of work without the unwavering love, friendship, and support from my husband, Neil. He has been a wonderful and caring partner to me during every step of this process. Finally, I would like to thank my daughter, Annika, who constantly vii inspires me with her intellectual curiosity and who is the sunshine of my life. Annika and Neil, I love you to the end of the universe and back! viii Table of Contents Chapter 1: Eighteenth-Century Discourses of Masculinity Meet Revolutionary Ideas………………..………..…….. 1 Chapter 2: Charlotte Smith’s Soft Heroes of the Gentry …………………………………………………………..... 28 Chapter 3: Agatha: An Unusual Anti-Jacobin Celebration of Sensibility and “The Man of Feeling” ……………….64 Chapter 4: Blackguards and Buffoons: The Threat of Lower Class Men and Social Mobility in Burney’s Camilla ..97 Chapter 5: Maria Edgeworth and the Effeminizing Power of French Ideas and Manners …………….………..…. 131 Chapter 6: Emma: A New Manliness for the Nineteenth Century …...…………..…...…………………………… 169 Appendix A ...………………………………………………...………………………………….…….. 205 Appendix B ...………………………………………………...………………………………………... 206 Works Cited ...………………………………………………...………………….……………………. 207 1 A Man to Preserve or Reform the Nation: Masculinity as Political Rhetoric in English Novels during the Revolution Controversy “If it be asked – What is the French Revolution to us? - We answer . It is much. – Much to us as Men: Much to us as Englishmen” (Paine, The Political and Miscellaneous Works 58). “Since at least the mid-sixteenth century, both radicals and conservatives of all stripes saw the inculcation of virtues, manners, and manliness as a central form of power” (David Kuchta, The Three Piece Suit 3). Chapter 1: Eighteenth-Century Discourses of Masculinity Meet Revolutionary Ideas I Gender and politics are inextricably intertwined. For instance, contemporary female politicians have to walk a tight-rope between being confident and decisive but not unfeminine often, therefore, focusing on projecting nurturing qualities such as compassion. Accordingly, assertive female politicians like Hillary Rodham Clinton and Britain’s “iron-lady” Margaret Thatcher have been vilified by political foes and rejected by some voters as a result of being seen as overly masculine and for failing to abide by traditional ideas of femininity. This is not a new problem for women in the sphere of politics, and we can see the obvious parallels to the “unsex’d” Mary Wollstonecraft in the 1790s. Wollstonecraft, in her turn, in A Vindication of the Rights of Men chided her political opponent, Burke, himself a master of gendered discourse, for abandoning rational language when describing the plight of Marie Antoinette. Thomas Paine, too, found, Burke’s florid descriptions of the French Queen to be excessive and therefore 2 effeminate, and he, as well as Wollstonecraft, uses gendered terms to undermine Burke’s political argument. Whereas Wollstonecraft ridicules Burke for his “romantic gallantry” (A Vindication of the Rights of Men 54), Paine derides Burke’s “frenzy of passion” (9) and compares his rhetoric, which he describes as “ineffectual, though gay with flowers,” with the “clear, concise, and soul-animating sentiments” and, in Paine’s opinion, clearly more manly style, of the Marquis de la Fayette (18). In this instance, Wollstonecraft, Paine and Burke were all situating themselves in a lively debate, not only about politics, but also about what it meant to be a man. All three build upon hegemonic categories of normative masculinity in order to make their political points, and, accordingly, masculinity becomes a prism through which larger cultural and political issues are seen. The literary responses to the French Revolution have been thoroughly examined, most notably by Gary Kelly and M.O. Grenby, but whereas the Revolution’s impact on women writers and femininity has been explored by critics such as Marilyn Butler, Gary Kelly, Eleanor Ty and Audrey Bilger, the Revolution’s impact on and engagement with standards of manliness have been given less attention. Megan Woodworth argues that the reason for this is that male characters have generally been written off as the products of wishful dreams or mere didactic tools, but I agree with her assertion that “male figures – heroes villains and father-figures alike – are deliberate artistic and ideologically-charged productions with the aim to complicate the way the political and social philosophies and interventions … are regarded” (2). Woodworth, however, concentrates mainly on male characters as functions of female authors’ desires and reactions to patriarchy. This dissertation, therefore, aims to examine how notions of contemporary masculinity is positioned and
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Rhinehart Collection Rhinehart The
    The The Rhinehart Collection Spine width: 0.297 inches Adjust as needed The Rhinehart Collection at appalachian state university at appalachian state university appalachian state at An Annotated Bibliography Volume II John higby Vol. II boone, north carolina John John h igby The Rhinehart Collection i Bill and Maureen Rhinehart in their library at home. ii The Rhinehart Collection at appalachian state university An Annotated Bibliography Volume II John Higby Carol Grotnes Belk Library Appalachian State University Boone, North Carolina 2011 iii International Standard Book Number: 0-000-00000-0 Library of Congress Catalog Number: 0-00000 Carol Grotnes Belk Library, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina 28608 © 2011 by Appalachian State University. All rights reserved. First Edition published 2011 Designed and typeset by Ed Gaither, Office of Printing and Publications. The text face and ornaments are Adobe Caslon, a revival by designer Carol Twombly of typefaces created by English printer William Caslon in the 18th century. The decorative initials are Zallman Caps. The paper is Carnival Smooth from Smart Papers. It is of archival quality, acid-free and pH neutral. printed in the united states of america iv Foreword he books annotated in this catalogue might be regarded as forming an entity called Rhinehart II, a further gift of material embodying British T history, literature, and culture that the Rhineharts have chosen to add to the collection already sheltered in Belk Library. The books of present concern, diverse in their
    [Show full text]
  • Life of Mary Wollstonecraft
    l In vVr>. , {«'*' Vt.j UK ni^' V \* V> HHHBHnHSBBHc H HI IBQHU Class. Book COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT y » LIFE OF MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT. BY ELIZABETH ROBINS PENNELL. ^STON: ROBER . 3 BROTHERS. 1884. Copyright, 1884, By Roberts Brothers. iz- tfrVj University Press : John Wilson And Son, Cambridgi \y PREFACE. Comparatively little has been written about the life of Mary Wollstonecraft. The two authorities upon the subject are Godwin and Mr. C. Kegan Paul. In writing the following Biography I have relied chiefly upon the Memoir written by the former, and the Life of Godwin and Prefatory Memoir to the Letters to Imlay of the latter. I have endeavored to supplement the facts recorded in these books by a careful analysis of Mary Wollstonecraft's writings and study of the period in which she lived. I must here express my thanks to Mr. Gar- nett, of the British Museum, and to Mr. C. Kegan Paul, for the kind assistance they have given me in my work. To the first named of these gentlemen I am indebted for the loan of a manuscript containing some particulars of Mary Wollstonecraft's last illness which have never yet appeared in print, and to Mr. Paul for the gift, as well as the loan, of several impor- tant books. E. R. P. London, August, 1884. CONTENTS. Page Introduction i Chapter I. Childhood and Early Youth. 17 59-1778 . 12 II. First Years of Work. 1778-1785 .... 30 III. Life as Governess, i 786-1 788 ...... 60 IV. Literary Life. 1 788-1 791 85 V. Literary Work.
    [Show full text]
  • Olympic Games in Kiel 1972 I 2022 Finn, FD, Star, Tempest, Drachen & Soling
    Olympic Games in Kiel 1972 I 2022 Finn, FD, Star, Tempest, Drachen & Soling 18th December 2020 Agenda MOTIVATION & VISION H O S T - KIEL LOCATION & EVENT VENUE COMMUNICATION RACE SCHEDULE BUDGET REFERENCES CONTACT DRAWING THE BIG PICTURE Motivation & Vision The event is held during the event “Olympic Games in Kiel 1972 I 2022”. 50 years after the Olympic Games, a unique event with the old and new Olympic classes should take place to celebrate a true sports festival in Kiel 2022. In order to give the sailing competitions a stage, the Kieler Yacht-Club (KYC) is standing at the side of the state capital Kiel. We are looking forward to host an unforgettable Event based on our long and successful history with the well known Kiel Week and all kinds of championships. Sailing venue (onshore and offshore), infrastructure and accommodation is the famous Kiel fjord and the Olympic sailing Center Kiel-Schilksee: hosting two Olympics, over 130 years of Kiel Week and other regattas like many Worlds and Europeans. Date of the Event: from 18th to 28th August 2022. More information can be found on the schedule. Olympic Games in Kiel 1972 I 2022 WITH THE UNBEATABLE CLASS DIVERSITY O F THE OLYMPICS 1972 Just like Munich and Augsburg as the hosts at the time, the state capital Preface Kiel will commemorate Olympic Games in Kiel 1972 I 2022 with a colorful and varied supporting program. Sailing is to be the focus of the KIELER YACHT - C L U B E . V . celebrations. The focus will be on the Olympic classes of then and now.
    [Show full text]
  • £¤A1a £¤Us1 £¤192 £¤Us1 £¤A1a
    S T r G A K A W R o A C T A P I Y TRAS R O ON A L M I N R N M R O S T EM P G T E D D p E Y Y I F A O S S N NV O S L D A GI L DU ERN L R M N N A H CASTL ES K S E S N T P A T M E T U RAFFORD C A R I A N T L I I N E K H M O L L D R R C C i D A I R O P S Y T U W S N P LIMPKIN EL N B P E A G D TA I S T C A L O c U N I A O T R B L S O A U R A N O SP T B T K SPUR E E I O E P L L S N R H E R S M I C Y OUNT S D RY N H WALK T I A O S R W L U a A E D P A1A E E M O N U R O M L O A A RD F A D A H H Y S H W U P R TR S EN E N I DAV T l ADDISO N R A K E A S D P V E O R E A R O A O A R Y £ S E T K Y R ¤ B E T R O Y N O L A T M D Y N ADDIS L Y C I U ON N N S V E T K K AT A A R OLA A O I C A R L R O V Z N P A NA EE K R I B L TR R V L L AY N C B A E M L S E E r M O A L L E R L M O I A R O C U A P G A T G R R SS l E M Q BLA C R R M JORDAN H A E E N M E S R S U I S R U E P E T H N C N A A DE R U I IR AR G RECRE T G AT S W M D H M WILLOW C M ION R L REE B E PA P A K A E A D E E A C B L I US1 C L T S G R R U Y K E R S R P IB L I ERA D W N D Q A C O E N RS I A PINEDA O L N R E N y O T N F THIRD A R M HOF A S T G £ w T I L D ¤ N E S s E M S D H A BO B L S O Q H W R T U H E K PIO N K O CAP H C S E R R U O T I G L O C DO V A A F R G O H E M O TRU O a CEN L R O O L E G N L R L E N S H R d I I R B W E A Y N R O W I R e A V C U W E F FIRST R A M K W T K H n L G T A I JEN S E LLO i R ANE E R R C O A A E T A A E I P I E H FIRST S H Y P L N D SKYLARK R T A H A N O S S City of Melbourne K T S L I F E O K CASABELLA 1 E RAMP U A T OCEAN N S R S R I P E SANDPIPER E R A O
    [Show full text]
  • Boat Nat Sail Type Model Characteristics Layout Cloth Price Euro Class Label
    Boat Nat Sail type Model Characteristics Layout Cloth Price Euro Class Label 12,5 Kvm Krysser IT Main OD-125MA-1 All-round Crosscut Dacron 190B HMTO € 763 no 12,5 Kvm Krysser IT Jib C1 OD-125JL-1 Light Crosscut Dacron 190B HMTO € 480 no 12,5 Kvm Krysser IT Jib C2 OD-125JA-1 Medium Crosscut Dacron 190B HMTO € 428 no 12,5 Kvm Krysser IT Spinnaker OD-125SPIT-1 All-round Trioptimal Superkote 75 € 502 no 12,5 Kvm Krysser IT Spinnaker OD-125SPIB-1 All-round Butterfly Superkote 75 € 428 no BB 11 IT Main OD-BB11MAIN-12 All-round Crosscut Dacron 200 AP HTPlus € 769 no BB 11 IT Jib OD-BB11JIB-12 All-round Crosscut Dacron 200 AP HTPlus € 493 no Contender IT Main OD-CONMA01 All-round Crosscut Dacron 200 AP MTO € 874 no Contender IT Main OD-CONMAIT02 All-round / Power Crosscut Dacron 4,52 Polypreg € 874 no Contender IT Main OD-CONMAIT03 All-round / Power Crosscut Flexx Aramid Black 07 € 998 no Dragon IT Main OD-DRMA05 All-round Crosscut Dacron 280 AP HMTO € 1.550 37 Dragon IT Genoa OD-DRGLC01 Light Crosscut Dacron 180 OD HTPlus € 1.217 37 Dragon IT Genoa OD-DRGMT02 Medium Trioptimal Dacron 240 B HTPlus € 1.248 37 Dragon IT Genoa OD-DRGMC02 Medium Crosscut Dacron 240 B HTPlus € 1.165 37 Dragon IT Genoa OD-DRGHC05 Heavy Crosscut Dacron 280 AP HTPlus € 1.144 37 Dragon IT Spinnaker OD-DRSA01 All-round Butterfly 0,75 Dynalite € 1.342 37 Express IT Main OD-EXMA09 All-round Crosscut Dacron 280 AP HTPlus € 1.581 no Express IT Jib OD-EXJM09 Medium Crosscut Dacron 240 AP HTPlus € 1.165 no Express IT Spinnaker OD-EXSA09 All-round Trioptimal 0,75 oz € 1.506 no
    [Show full text]
  • The Boomerang Theology of Andrew Marvell
    The Boomerang Theology NIGEL SMITH of Andrew Marvell Résumé : La poésie lyrique d’Andrew Marvell a suscité quelques discussions bien connues de la poétique protestante, puritaine et contre-réformatrice. Tou- tefois la religion joue un autre rôle, presqu’entièrement inexploré, dans sa poésie. On a remarqué jusqu’à quel point ses œuvres en prose des années 1670, dans lesquelles il exprime ses opinions sur la tolérancereligieuse, la liberté civile et l’absolutisme, incorporent des vers et des expressions remaniés de sa poésie, parmi d’autres références poétiques. Cet article considère la poésie de Marvell, autant en soi qu’en son remaniement, comme le chantier où a été forgée la largeur d’esprit manifestée dans sa prose. hirty years ago, the last time a large body of Marvell editions were Tpublished, the poet and politician’s public life and professed belief presented a number of seemingly unsolvable difficulties that were at least helpful in explaining the ambiguities and ironies for which his most famous poems were celebrated.1 A Parliamentarian and Puritan; a friend of Milton, but someone who apparently expressed sympathy for King Charles I, and so, perhaps, a covert royalist. A friend of the nonconformists, during the Restoration, and a stout defender of liberty of conscience, but despite his attack on the bishops, someone who was prepared to defend them in certain circumstances. A vehement spokesman against popery, and its concomitant, arbitrary government, but someone prepared occasionally to defend Catho- lics. We have come a long
    [Show full text]
  • Season 2019 – 2020 Avalon Sailing Club Clareville Beach, Pittwater
    ! Season 2019 – 2020 Avalon Sailing Club Clareville Beach, Pittwater ! www.avalonsailingclub.com.au Award winning team Waterfront & oceanfront specialists James Baker and his team have been ranked again in the top 100 agents in Australia by both REB and Rate My Agent. With over $80 million sold since January this year, they have the experience and the proven track record to assist you with all your property needs. IF you are thinking oF selling or would like an update on the value oF your home call our team at McGrath Avalon. James Baker 0421 272 692 Lauren Garner 0403 944 427 Lyndall Barry 0411 436 407 mcgrath.com.au Avalon Sailing Club Mainsheet 2019 - 2020 Avalon Sailing Club Limited Old Wharf Reserve 28b Hudson Parade Clareville Beach “For the fostering, encouragement, promotion, teaching and above all, enjoyment of sailing on the waters of Pittwater” Mainsheet Postal Address: PO Box 59 Avalon Beach NSW 2107 Phone: 02 9918 3637 (Clubhouse) Sundays only Website: www.avalonsailingclub.com.au Email: [email protected] or [email protected] Avalon Sailing Club Mainsheet 2019 - 2020 Table of Contents Commodore’s Welcome ___________ 1 Sections 3 - Course B (Gold PM) ___ 38 General Club Facilities ____________ 2 Laser Full Rig, International 420, Clubhouse Keys and Security _____ 2 International 29er, Finn, Spiral, Flying Radios _______________________ 2 11 and O’pen Skiffs ____________ 38 Moorings _____________________ 2 Race Management ______________ 41 Sailing Training ________________ 2 A Guide for Spectator
    [Show full text]
  • The Novels of Edouard Rod (1857-1910)
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Papers from the University Studies series (The University of Nebraska) University Studies of the University of Nebraska 1938 The Novels of Edouard Rod (1857-1910) James Raymond Wadsworth University of Nebraska Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/univstudiespapers Part of the Comparative Literature Commons, and the French and Francophone Language and Literature Commons Wadsworth, James Raymond, "The Novels of Edouard Rod (1857-1910)" (1938). Papers from the University Studies series (The University of Nebraska). 117. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/univstudiespapers/117 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the University Studies of the University of Nebraska at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Papers from the University Studies series (The University of Nebraska) by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. VoL. XXXVIII-Nos. 3-4 1938 UNIVERSITY STUDIES PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA COMMITTEE ON PUBLICATIONS M.A. BASOCO J. E. KIRSHMAN G. W. ROSENLOF HARRY KURZ FRED W. UPSON H. H. MARVIN D. D. WHITNEY LOUISE POUND R. A. MILLER THE NOVELS OF EDOUARD ROD (1857-1910) BY JAMES RAYMOND WADSWORTH ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ROMANCE LANGUAGES UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA LINCOLN, NEBRASKA 1938 THE UNIVERSITY STUDIES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA VOLUME XXXVIII LINCOLN PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY 1938 CONTENTS 1-2-FRYE, PROSSER HALL. Plato .............. 1-113 3--4-WAoswoRTH, JAMES RAYMOND. The Novels of Edouard Rod (1857-1910) ............. 115-173 ii UNIVERSITY STUDIES VoL. XXXVIII-Nos. 3--4 1938 THE NOVELS OF EDOUARD ROD (1857-1910) BY JAMES RAYMOND WADSWORTH ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ROMANCE LANGUAGES UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page PREFACE \' I.
    [Show full text]
  • The Bilge November 2020
    The Bilge November 2020 Ridgeway Avenue Soldiers Point 2315 Commodore’s Report Commodore’s Report COMMODORE REPLY AT AGM 1. Welcome to members of PSYC thank you for your attendance. 2. Welcome the returning directors thank you for your past service. a. Rick Pacey – Vice Commodore b. David Simm – Rear Commodore c. Anne Evans – Treasurer d. Marina Budisavljevic – Secretary e. Lotte Baker – Assistant Secretary & Licensee in Charge f. Steve Plante – Director 3. Welcome the new directors a. Ross Macdonald – Club Captain b. Peter Oliver – Director 4. Appointment of the Auditors a. Confirmed as W Morley & Co Pty Ltd (Nelson Bay) 5. General Business a. Special thankyou to Board Members stepping down: i. Commodore - John Townsend ii. Club Captain – John Glease. b. Special thank you to the “Volunteers” at PSYC you know who you are and the work you do is appreciated to keep our club and sailing activities in Port Stephens going week in week out. c. Challengers facing the PSYC i. Covid – 19 impact on the club’s activities, income and members & visitors Health and Safety. Thank you to John Townsend for his dedication and attention to detail making the PSYC, members & visitors safe during 2020. ii. Profitability and Provision of Services to members. 1. PSYC a “not for profit” still has bills to pay and services to be offered to its members. 2. Your board will be conducting a “Budget Review” in the first few months which will involve all aspects Financial. a. Membership Fees. b. Mooring Fees and Charges. c. Bar Income & Expenses. d. Sub-Leasing of club space for other board approved activities, social events, etc iii.
    [Show full text]
  • Paris and London in Frances Burney's Novels
    Transcending National Identity: Paris and London in Frances Burney’s Novels Marianna D’Ezio University for Foreigners of Perugia, Italy Synergies Royaume-Uni Royaume-Uni Summary: When British novelist Frances Burney decided to marry a penniless, French, not to mention Roman Catholic émigré in 1793, not even the strong 59-74 pp. opposition of her beloved father, the renowned musicologist Charles Burney, et could dissuade her. “Fanny” was forty-one years old and, despite wanting to Irlande become a dramatist, had already written several influential novels, including Evelina (1778) and Cecilia (1782). The central theme in Burney’s novels was n° 3 the portrayal and treatment of the heroines’ internal battles between the attraction of, and repulsion by London’s fashionable life, where consumption - 2010 was foremost and a vital part of everyday activities. London was the place where Burney grew up, began her literary career and refined her taste and acute critical attitude. Indeed, it was her contact with the most fashionable coteries of the time, primarily the Streatham circle, that introduced her to her literary mentor, Samuel Johnson. Burney’s parables on fashion and its effects on young women’s prospective ambitions may well be best represented by her lesser known novel, The Wanderer (1812). This novel witnessed a change in setting which mirrored that of the time: the appeal of London life in the 1790s had made way for smaller resorts such as Brighton, in addition to locations further afield, of which one was Paris. Her ability to perceive the transformation of “the city” from a mere urban setting into a modern, multicultural metropolis was made possible by her marriage to Alexandre Jean-Baptiste Piochard d’Arblay and her subsequent move to Paris.
    [Show full text]
  • A Short History of Hereford
    A S H O RT H I STO RY OF H EREFORD . W I LLI AM COLLI NS , A utho of Mode n H e e fo d The An lican Chu che s r r r r , g r " f H e e fo d The Ma o s o H e e o d o f f &c . r r , y r r r , H E R E FOR D J AKE MAN AND CA RV E R . D E D I CATE D to the Memory of the su pporters of the principle of l - se f government throughout the centuries of the past ; and , in particular , to the Memory of the late Alderman Charles P al ll Anthony , J . and his Municip Co eagues and successors , wh o by their marvellous achievements and noble devotion have laid the foundations of OD O M ERN HEREF RD , upon which the happiness and prosperity of the citizens is now being built . ~ 157569 3 I NTROD UCTI ON . The City of the Wye is a very ancient place ; and the centre of a district of which our knowledge dates back t o the days of J ulius Caesar ; or about fifty years before the birth of Jesus Christ . It was known to the old Britons as erf aw d d Ca y , which means the town of the beechwood ; 6 6 and in the year 7 , the date of the foundation of the bishop k n ric, the name was changed to Hereford , by which it is now to this day .
    [Show full text]
  • Toward Liberalism: Politics, Poverty, and the Emotions in the 1790S Peter Denney Griffith University
    Toward Liberalism: Politics, Poverty, and the Emotions in the 1790s Peter Denney Griffith University I n the volatile atmosphere of the mid-1840s, the leading exponent of Victorian liber- alism, John Stuart Mill, published an essay in the Edinburgh Review in which he rejected the assumption that political economy encompassed a “hard-hearted, unfeeling” approach Ito the question of poverty.1 Entitled “The Claims of Labour,” a major purpose of the essay was to advocate self-help as the key to improving the condition of the laboring classes. According to Mill, the promotion of self-help was an urgent matter, for there had been a revival of the belief that the situation of the poor could be ameliorated either by charity or by the redistribution of property. It was as if people had forgotten the population theory of Thomas Robert Malthus, who, beginning in the late 1790s, argued that such schemes exacerbated the problem of poverty by discouraging the laboring classes from developing qualities like restraint and industriousness that were crucial not just to their improvement but to their survival. Radical and conservative critics alike condemned Malthus both for the bleakness of his theory and for the cold, calcu- lating attitude it seemed to endorse. While understanding such criticism, Mill dismissed these detractors as the “sentimental enemies of political economy.”2 At the same time, he insisted that political economy was compatible with sympathy, if not with sentimentality. If interpreted cor- rectly, it generated a view of the poor that mixed empirical observations with positive emotions, producing a sense of optimism regarding the future of the laboring classes.
    [Show full text]